Hair curler



1962 E. HOFFMANN EI'AL 3,067,755

HAIR CURLER Filed Feb. 10, 1960 INVENTORS E RNE ST HOFFMANN CLAUDE D. GRESHAM United States Patent Oflhce 3,057,755 Patented Dec. 11, 1962 3,067,755 HAIR CURLER Ernest Hottmann and Claude D. Gresham, Omaha, Nebn, assignors to Tip-Top Products Company, Omaha, Nehru, a corporation of Nebraska Filed Feb. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 7,811 Claims. (Cl. 132-41) This invention relates to devices upon which human hair may be curled or waved, and more particularly to a novel hair curler having a floating action hinge.

As will be fully described hereinafter, the present invention is concerned with a hair curler which comprises three functionally interconnected members, a body member having combs thereon and adapted to have hair wound *-\therearound, a clip member adapted to be engaged or Elipped upon the body member to hold the wound hair in place, and a hinge member for securing the clip member to the body member in a floating pivotal connection.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a unique hinge-type hair curler having a body member and a clip member, wherein the curler is self-adjusting to take various amounts of hair, and yet remain in assembled relation with the body member capable of free rotation with respect to the clip member at all times.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hinge-type hair curler, wherein the body member and clip member are secured together in a floating pivotal relationship, whereby the pivot point therebetween is capable of a floating action.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hair curler, wherein the body portion thereof, adapted to have hair wound therearound, is so designed as to allow the maximum amount of air circulation therethrough, as for drying purposes, and yet be of sufficient rigidity. It is a related object to provide a body member which comprises means for evenly distributing and grasping a lock of hair as it is being rolled thereon.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a hair curler having a clip thereon, which is provided with means by which water or any other desired solution or liquid may be applied to the hair held thereby, and which provides for a maximum amount of drying action for said hair. It is a related object to provide a curler clip having means which is easily and conveniently grasped with ones finger to disengage the clip member from the body member.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a light-weight flexible plastic hair curler which is non-corrosive and non-toxic, which may be easily cleaned for sanitary purposes, and which is comfortable to sleep on.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a hair curler comprising a plurality of functionally cooperative members, wherein the members remain connected at all times to eliminate the possibility of their becoming separated and lost, and wherein they are capable of self-adjustment to positively secure varying amounts of hair thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hair curler having a body member and a clip member with modified hinge means for pivotally securing the two members together in a floating pivotal relationship.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which we have shown two embodiments of our invention by way of example, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a hair curler embodying the principles of the present invention, with certain parts broken away and showing in phantom lines the way in which the clip member pivots;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view, with certain parts broken away, of the curler shown in FIGURE 1, but in a straight open position;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the curler shown in FIGURE 1 after the clip member has been pivoted into engagement with the body member;

FIGURE 4 is an end view similar to FIGURE 3 but taken from the other end of the curler;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the curler in a closed position, and having a modified hinge arrangement;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5, but in open position;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the embodlrnent of FIGURE 5 illustrating the inner end of the modified hinge member; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional end view taken along line 88 of FIGURE 6.

The hair curler embodying the principles of the present invention consists of three distinct, but interconnected, members, namely, a body member 19, a hinge member 12, and a clip member 14. In application, hair is wound about or rolled upon the body member 10, and is held in a rolled condition therearound by means of clip member 14 which pivots at one end into a position in which it engages and surrounds the major outer circumference of the body member 10. The hinge member 12 which pivotally connects the clip member 14 to the body memher It} is so designed that the outer end thereof, which pivotally supports the clip member 14, is capable of a transverse or floating movement, to thus enable the clip member 14 to be spaced from the body member 10 when engaged therewith to secure varying amounts of hair. For example, if there is a relatively large amount of hair roiled upon body member 10 the clip member is capable of being spaced a suiticient distance from the body member 10 to receive the large amount of hair, and yet still be in a pivotal relation thereto.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURES 1 through 4 a first or. preferred embodiment of the invention, and in FIGURES 5 through 8 there is shown a second embodiment of the invention, comprising a modified hinge arrangement, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Referring to FIGURES 1 through 4, the main body member 10 is of generally circular cross-section having a reduced central diameter to thereby define integrally formed frusto-conical end portions, as can be seen. The ends of body member 10 are defined by circular flanges 16 and 18 which are integrally interconnected by means of a plurality of longitudinal ribs 20. Between end flanges 16 and 18, the longitudinal ribs 20 are integrally interconnected by a plurality of circumferential ribs 22. As can be seen, there is provided a unitary integrally formed structure having a generally lattice-type surface which will allow the free circulation of air therethrough.

Each of the longitudinal ribs 20 is provided with a plurality of integrally formed transverse projections 24 to thereby define a comb along each of the ribs 20. These longitudinal combs serve to evenly distribute and help grasp the hair rolled upon the body member 10. In addition, there are provided a plurality of inwardly directed radial projections 26 formed integrally with the ribs 20 and disposed in a central plan perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the curler body member 10. As will be understood, the radial projections 26 could, if desired, be formed integrally with a central circumferential rib rather than on the longitudinal ribs 20, as is shown.

Rotatably and pivotally supported within the body member 10, by means of radial projection-s 26, is hinge member 12, having one end extending slightly beyond flange 16. The hinge member 12 comprises central shank portion 28, having integrally formed at the inner end thereof flanges 30 and 32, defining an annular groove 34 therebetween. Annular groove 34 is adapted to receive radial projections 26, and is just slightly wider than the diameter of the projections. As can be seen in FIG- URES 1 and 2, shank portion 28 is capable of transverse pivotal movement in all directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the curler body member 16 due to the flexibility of radial projections 26, and is also capable of free rotation therewith since the projections 26 do not extend all the way to the bottom of groove 34. The outer end of hinge member 12 is provided with a bifurcated end portion 36, having aperture 38 extending all the way therethrough.

The clip member 14 is of generally cylindrical shape, having a longitudinal open slot along one edge thereof to thereby provide the clip member with a C-shaped crosssection. Clip member 14 is also a lattice-type structure, having C-shaped end flanges 40 and a2, longitudinal ribs 44 and C-shaped circumferential ribs 46. Defining the edges of the longitudinal slot are longitudinal flanges 48 and 50, integrally formed with circumferential ribs 46 and end flanges 49 and 42. Centrally disposed in clip member 14 is a relatively large central aperture 52 having a re-enforced peripheral portion 54. Central aperture 52 serves as means for easily and conveniently applying liquids to the hair held in position by the clip member 14, and also for drying said hair. Integrally secured to the portion of end flange 42 disposed directly opposite flanges 48 and 50 is transversely extending arm 56 having formed at its outer end, transverse thereto, pivot pin 58, which is pivotally received within aperture 38 on hinge member 12. The total length of clip member 14 is slightly less than the distance between flanges 16 and 18 of the body member 1% so that the two members will fit together securely.

The body member 10, the hinge member 12, and the clip member 14, may be integrally cast as separate members, of any suitable flexible material, such as plastic. It is particularly important that the body member be relatively flexible, in order that the radial projections 26 may be easily deflected to thereby allow the outer end of hinge member 12 to float, or pivot, with respect to the center of the curler body member 10. The hinge member 12 also, of course, rotates freely within the curler body. Flexibility of body member 10 is also desirable to facilitate easy assembly thereof to hinge member 12, as by firmly pushing flange 32 against the radial projections 26 until they deflect sufiiciently to pass over the flange 32 and into groove 34, to thereby hold the hinge member 12 in desired position. The hinge member 12 need only be flexible enough that the bifurcated end portion 36 will spread apart sufliciently to receive the pivot pin 58 of the clip member 14, in assembly. Similarly, the clip member 14 must be only flexible enough to be capable of spreading apart or opening enough to be clipped over and into engagement with body member 19 and any hair rolled thereon.

In actual application, the hair curler, which may be made in a variety of sizes, is used as follows. The curler is opened, as in FIGURE 1, and the lock of hair which is desired to be curled is taken in one hand and rolled upon the outer hourglass-shaped surface of body member 10 in the conventional manner, it being properly aligned and held thereon by means of the longitudinal combs defined by teeth 24, with the hourglass-shape allowing space for the hair to lie smoothly. If desired, just prior to the actual rolling the body member 16 may be slid along the lock of hair so that the combs thereon will make the hair smooth for rolling. The rolling may be performed without rotating the clip member 14 also, since the body member, which serves as the roller, is adapted to rotate independent thereof, as has been described. When the entire lock has been so rolled the clip is simply swung or pivoted about pivot pin 58, in a clockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 1, to be pressed upon the curler body member 10 and the hair thereon. As the clip member is forced upon the body member longitudinal flanges 48 and 5t) tend to cam the clip member 14 into an open position whereby it slips over the hair and body member 10 to become engaged thereabout in a clasp relationship. FIGURE 3 shows the clip member 14 engaged upon the body member 10, however, in this figure the pivot pin 58 is shown disposed substantially on the longitudinal axis of the curler, or in a position where there would be a minimum amount of hair rolled on the body member 10.

As will be appreciated, the presence of more hair on the body member will simply tend to cause the clip to be spread apart a little farther, and to cause the pivot point thereof, as a pin 58, to move transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body member to account for the greater amount of hair. This transverse movement of the pivot is achieved primarily by the pivotal movement of hinge member 12 with respect to the body member 10, and not by a bending of the hinge member itself. In FIGURE 3, a larger amount of hair would tend to displace the pivot pin 58 to a position below the longitudinal axis of the body member 10. Thus, there is provided a curler which is capable of self-adjustment to positively engage and hold varying amounts of hair.

When it is desired to remove the hair from the curler, it is necessary only to disengage the clip member 14 from the body member 10, as by grasping the aperture 52 or flanges 40, 48 or 50 with ones finger to pivot the clip out of engagement.

In FIGURES 5 through 8 there is shown a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein there is provided a modified hinge arrangement. In this modification the body member 10 is exactly the same as the one shown in FIGURES 1 through 4. The hinge member of this embodiment, as designated at 60, however, is of different construction than hinge member 12.

Hinge member 60 comprises shank portion 62 having integrally formed on the inner end thereof flange 64 and hub 66. At the opposite outer end of shank 62 there is provided a transverse portion 68, integrally therewith, having apertures 76 and 72 at each end thereof. As can be seen in FIGURES 7 and 8, the only dilference between the inner ends of hinge member 60 and hinge member 12 is the absence of a flange equivalent to flange 30 of hinge member 12. This flange is not necessary on hinge member 60 since transverse portion 68 prevents the hinge member 60 from moving to the right in FIG- URE 7 to become disengaged from radial projections 26. In any case, the rotating and pivoting of the hinge member 60 with respect to the curler body member 10 is exactly the same as that between the hinge member 12 and curler body member 10.

In this embodiment, the clip member is also almost exactly the same as clip member 14 shown in FIGURES 1 through 4. The only difference lies in the fact that arm 56 has been removed, and replaced by a pair of longitudinal projections 74 and 76, each having integral inwardly directed projections adapted to be pivotally received within the respective apertures 70 and 72 of the transverse portion 68 of binge 60. As will be apparent, this embodiment of the curler is used in exactly the same manner as is the curler in FIGURES 1 through 4, and is also provided with the same self-adjusting, or floating, feature.

While there has been disclosed two exemplary embodiments of our invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the specific details of construction and arrangement of parts, as described, are by Way of example only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. For example, if desired, hinge member 12 could be formed without flange 3% as is hinge member 60, or, on the other hand, hinge member 60 may be provided With a pivot arrangement at the inner end thereof similar to that shown in FIGURE 1. In addition, there are many possible inversions of parts which may be utilized, if desired, such as forming the inner end of the hinge member with a single radial flange or a plurality of outwardly directed radial projections adapted to be rotatably and pivotally received within an annular groove provided on the inside surface of the curler body member. Similarly, end portion 36 could be provided with transverse projections to be pivotally received within apertures in arm 56, or transverse portion 68 could be provided with transverse projections adapted to be pivotally received within apertures within projections 74 and 76. Furthermore, one may, if desired, detach the body member from the clip and hinge members and use it alone with bobby pins or suitable straight pins, in the well-known manner.

We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth and intend that the invention embody all such features and modifications as are within the scope of. the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Hair curler means comprising hollow body means to support hair rolled thereon, clip means for holding in place hair rolled upon said body means, and hinge means for securing said clip means to said body means in a floating pivotal connection allowing the hinge means to move omnidirectionally transversely of the body means, said hinge means having a first end rotatable and pivotally secured to said body means and having a second end pivotally secured to said clip means, said hinge means being secured to said body means intermediate the ends of the body means.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body portion tapers towards its center, and wherein said clip means is generally cylindrical in shape and has an open slot along one longitudinal edge thereof.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body means is provided with a plurality of inwardly directed projections, and wherein said hinge means is provided at its first end with means defining a groove for receiving said projections in a rotatable and pivotal relationship.

4. Means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivotal connection between said body means and said hinge means includes radially projecting means on one of said means and an annular groove defined by the other of said means, said radially projecting means extending into the annular groove and having a width substantially smaller than that of the groove, the radially extending length of said projecting means extending into the groove being smaller than the depth of the groove.

5. Means as claimed in claim 3 wherein the width of said groove is substantially greater than the width of the projections extending therewithin, and wherein the depth of said groove is greater than the inwardly extending length of said projections extending into the groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,738,681 Bachleda Dec. 10, 1929 2,450,542 Eppich Oct. 5, 1948 2,747,584 Polykranas May 29, 1956 2,783,763 King Mar. 5, 1957 3,008,475 Solomon Nov. 14, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 47,677 France Mar. 9, 1937 389,764 Great Britain Mar. 23, 1933 928,452 France June 2, 1947 1,189,591 France Mar. 23, 1959 

